Under floor pumping means

ABSTRACT

A pumping means characterized by its being located in a shell below basement floor level with the upper end of the shell being closed by a cover cap which provides a continuation of the basement floor so that no parts of the shell or pump assembly within the shell are above the floor, and further characterized by simplicity of construction, ease of original installation, and removal and replacement of the pump assembly as needed.

United States Patent Delancey et al.

[54] UNDER FLOOR PUMPING MEANS 2,739,662 3/1956 Sofia' 417/40 i 4 [75] Inventors: Warren H. Delancey, Elyria; Donald is Weisman, Southfield, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Flood Control Valve Company, Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Detroit, Mich. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cullen, Settle, Sloman & 22 Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 Cantor [211 App]. No.: 291,836 [57] ABSTRACT A pumping means characterized by its being located E3] (5]. in a Shell below basement floor level with the upper i 115/201 end of the shell being closed by a cover cap which 0 earc provides a continuation of the basement floor so that no parts of the shell or pump assembly within the shell [56] References cued are above the floor, and further characterizedby sim- UNITED STATES PATENTS plicity of construction, ease of original installation, 3,467,015 9/1969 Allen 415/201 and removal and replacement of the pump assembly 3,720,488 3/1973 BOOCI 415/201 as needed 7 3,394,509 7/1968 McKinley 52/22l 3,136,259 6/1964 BOOd 417/360 6 Claims, S-Drawing Figures 82 I as g g l 5a s 50 60 .1 Q5

N S 8% g \I PATENTEDAPR 30 an SHEET 1 [IF 2 SEEP/Q65 WALL I FIG. I

PATENTEDAPR 30 m4 SHEET 2 UP 2 6 m m m 0 FIGS UNDER FLOOR PUMPING MEANS GENERAL DISCUSSION This application relates generally to pumping means particularly designed for pumping seepage below a basement floor out from the area below such floor and into an area above grade and outside the house. Seepage systems of this character are well known and pumping means for such systems have also been known.

In some cases pumping means have been located in large diameter sumps. In other cases, the pumping means has been located in small diameter risers; and these installations are known as sumpless pumps. Sumpless pump installations known have been characterized by the fact that parts or all of the pumping means have been located above the basement floor level thus providing obstructions and militating against neatness of the installation.

This application discloses a pumping arrangement wherein a small diameter shell as contrasted from a large diameter sump, is located below the basement floor with all of the pumping means disposed within such shell below such floor and accessible for insertion and removal from the open upper end of the shell, normally closely by a floor cap or cover.

Further objects and advantages of the present arrangement will be understood upon reference to the specification which follows and to the appended drawing which shows a preferred embodiment illustrated by way of example.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The appended drawings show a preferred embodiment.

IN THESE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a half-scale view in elevation section of the shell and pumping means in such shell.

FIG. 2 is a plan view as if on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but with cover cap removed.

FIG. 3 is a small scale view, in elevation, of the pumpmotor assembly per se.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 1 of a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The drawings show a basement floor 10 having an opening 11 which receives an exterior cylindrical shell 14 of a diameter ranging from 4 inches to about 7 inches and having an open top registering with the 8 inches opening of the basement floor and having a closed bottom 16 and having first and second side openings 18 and 20 near the upper end of the shell and the third side opening 22 near the lower end of the shell.

THE UNITARY MOTOR PUMP ASSEMBLY Located within the shell is a unitary motor-pump assembly comprising a vertical shaft 30 at whose upper end is a motor 32 and at whose lower end is a pump'34, with both the motor and the pump being suitably en'- cased. The motor, the pump and the shaft are all interconnected into a unitary assembly of such a diameter and length in relation to the diameter and length of the shell as to enable the assembly to be lowered into the shell as a unit,.or lifted out of the shell as a unit, and

2 when received in the shell, to locate itself with its upper end below the open top of the shell 14.

The shell is formed with an internal ledge 36 of a dimension to provide a support for a locking ring part 38 at the upper end of the assembly, with such assembly thus resting on the ledge 36 andthus being supported by the shell 14. I V

Suitable means shown at 40 and 42 are provided for sealing the motor and the pump casings laterallyto the shell at the upper ends of the motor 32 and pump 34 parts of the assembly.

THE ELECTRICAL PARTS OF THE ASSEMBLY On the upper end of the assembly is an electrical switch 50 for controlling the motor. An electrical cord 52, having a plug 54 at one end for separable connection to a receptacle, has its other end connected to the switch 50.

Mounted on the assembly and located within the shell above the pump 34 are means in the form of a bellows arrangement 56 provided with a link 57 for controlling the switch 50 and formed to respond to a rise in water level and an increase in pressure in the shell to actuate the switch 50 and thus to actuate the motor 32 and the pump 34 for pumping.

THE SHELL The shell openings 18, 20 and 22 are formed in such a manner as to enable seepage inlet and outlet pipes to be connected to the shell at openings 20 and 22 and to enable an electrical conduit C to be connected to the shell at opening 18. g

' In opening 18 is located an electrical receptacle 60 adapted to be connected to conductors within the conduit C and such receptacle will be formed to be accessible to the plug 54 and toreceive such plug for supplying electrical current to. the motor through the switch S0 and the cord 52 and the plug 54.

INTERLOCKS The shell and the assembly have cooperating interlocking lug-type formations 62, on the assembly, and 64, on the shell for interlocking the assembly in place in the shell when the assembly is lowered into the shell and suspended therein. In the illustration shown, the separate locking ring or support plate 38 is formed to be rotatable with respect to the pump casing and yet be interlocked with respect to axial movement between the pump casing and the support plate 38. Thus, it is the lugs 62 of the support plate 38 that rotatably interlocks to the lugs 64 of the shell and thus the support plate locks or releases with respect to the shell to provide a releasable locking arrangement as well as a supporting arrangement between the assembly and the shell, such support plate'being the only part of the assembly which is rotated around the vertical axis when the assembly is in the shell for interlocking or releasing the assembly with respect to the shell, yet preserving the support of the assembly in the shell on the ledge 36.

A handle 71 on the ring 38 is provided to enable the ring to be rotated, and the assembly to be lifted or low- 'ered.

A cover cap closes the open upper end of the shell and is formed with lugs 73 to interlock with lugs 75 on the interior of the upper end of the shell and the cover cap is of a form to provide a floor level removable closure for the upper end of the shell.

Support plate or ring 38: is provided with a wing 72 which moves across the receptacle 60 as support plate 38 is rotated. Such wing is so positioned that for the wing to move with the support plate as the latter is moved for releasing the assembly from the shell, there is required that the plug 54 be out of the receptacle and the receptacle be exposed before the support plate can be rotated to release or lock the assembly in the shell. This interlock requires locking the assembly in place before plug in and requires plug out before releasing the assembly.

It will be observed that the closure cap 70 is of a form to insure that the installation will be air tight and thus odor free. The cap is flush with a basement floor so that nothing is exposed above such floor and there is no obstruction on the floor and since there is no escape of air from the shell through the cap 70, there is no objection to covering the closure cap 70 by furniture or the like.

It will be also observed that as a matter of good engineering, the motor 32 is of the type that is oil filled and sealed to the shaft and sealed within its own casing and that the latter is suspended on a shoulder or ledge 36 of the main or outer shell and locked in place and thus, the assembly is insertable into and removable from the exterior shell 14 and that these operations can be performed only when the electrical supply is disconnected.

No showing is here provided for the details of the interior of the motor or pump since these parts are old and well known and are of no special significance at this time.

While the pump motor is shown as controlled by bellows 56 responsive to an increase in pressure in the shell, and in return responsive to an increase in water level in the shell, any other suitable control may be provided, such as a float control, for the switch 50.

INSTALLATION It is important to note the ease and satisfaction of installation of the system of this application. The exterior shell 14, the seepage line connected to it at opening 20, the outlet line connected to it at opening 22, and the electrical conduit connected to it at opening 18, may all be installed in the rough, and the shell closed by cap 70.

The finish installation may be performed after the floor is poured, with the shell cap and the floor being harmonized as to floor level. Thereafter, the cap 70 is opened up and the motor and pump assembly may be lowered into the main shell and the support plate 38 turned to lock the assembly in the shell and after that, the plug 54 may be plugged into the receptacle or socket 60 and the cap 70 replaced.

For removal of an assembly, it is simply necessary to open up the cap 70, disconnect the plug 54, rotate the support plate 38 properly, and lift up the entire assembly.

It is also noted that there is shown in the embodiment disclosed, a debris cup 80 for fairly large pieces of debris that can not be pumped through by the pump and the debris collects in the debris cup and this may be emptied out simply by removing the entire assembly from the shell 14 and emptying out the debris cup and then replacing the entire assembly into the shell l4.

It will also be observed that the motor 32 is selected to be of a type that can be efficiently and properly run on an intermittent basis and silently. Thus, the unit needs no large reservoir. The pump is designed to be of sufficient capacity to handle properly the seepage required and since themotor and pump will be of the silent type and of a type that can operate efficiently though intermittently, the unit will handle the seepage problem satisfactorily.

It will also be noted that the outer shell 14 is contoured properly and especially by the provision of a ledge 36 and an open mouth at its upper end for properly supporting the assembly within the shell and for properly receiving a closure cap 70.

Outlet 22 is provided with a suitable fitting adapted to receive the discharge pipe 78 of FIG. 1. Pipe 78 is adapted to extend laterally under the floor and up along the inside of the building wall outletting at a point above the grade line to the building exterior.

Check valve 77 is interposed in said discharge line preventing back flow of fluids into the shell cavity once it is discharged.

MODIFICATION In a modification as shown schematically in FIG. 4, a shell 81 extends below floor 82, has seepage inlet pipe and discharge pipe 78 as'in FIG. 1' with a suitable check valve 77.

The outlet of pump 83 is connected at 84 to the discharge pipe. The pump motor 85 similar to FIG. I has switch 50 lead 52 and plug 54 for connection to socket 60 the same as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

SAFETY INTERLOCK Electric conduit C is connected to socket 60 but through a safety switch 86 which has a spring biased plunger 87 which extends into the shell at its cover opening.

With cover 88 removed, the plunger has moved to maintain the safety switch nonnally open, cutting off power to socket 60. When the cover is in place, the plunger is retracted thereby and the safety switch is closed. This provides a safety interlock.

MODIFICATIONS In the modification, FIG. 5, shell 90 has an outlet fitting 91 connected to discharge pipe 92 having a suitable check valve 93. Said fitting extends axially upward at 94 and is adapted to receive the axial pump outlet 95 which telescopes thereover on assembly. A suitable bayonet pin and slot connection 96-97 provides an interlock between said pumpoutlet and fitting.

We claim:

1. An under floor pumping means adapted to pump seepage comprising:

an exterior cylindrical shell having an open top and a closed bottom, and having first and second side openings near its upper end and a third side opening near its lower end; and

a unitary motor-pump assembly comprising a vertical shaft, a motor on the upper end of such shaft, a pump on the lower end of such shaft, with the motor, the pump, and the shaft all being interconnected into a unitary assembly of such a diameter and length in relation to the diameter and length of the shell as to enable the assembly to be lowered into the shell as a unit or lifted out of the shell as a unit, and to be received in said shell with its upper end below the open top of the shell;

said shell being formed with an internal ledge of a dimension to provide a support for the upper end of the assembly, the latter thus resting on such ledge and thus being supported by the shell;

means sealing the motor and the pump laterally to the shell at the upper ends of the motor and pump parts of the assembly;

an electrical switch on the upper end of the assembly for controlling said motor;

an electrical cord having a plug at one end for separable connection to a receptacle and connectedat the other end to the switch;

and means on said assembly and located in said shell,

above the pump for controlling said switch and formed to respond to a rise in water level in said shell to actuate the switch and thus the motor for pumping;

said assembly further having a handle at its upper end for lifting, lowering, or rotating the assembly;

said shell having means at the second and third side openings for interconnecting seepage inlet and outlet pipes to the shell at such openings;

means at the first side opening for interconnecting an electrical conduit to the shell at such opening; an electrical receptacle adapted to be connected to conductors in such conduit and disposed in such first side opening; and formed to receive said cord P g;

said shell and said assembly having cooperating interlocking formations for interlocking the assembly in place in the shell when it is lowered into the shell and suspended therein; with said formations being of a form for locking or releasing as a part of the assembly is rotated around a vertical axis when the assembly is in the shell;

and a cover cap for the open upper end of the shell formed to provide a floor level removable closure on the upper end of the shell.

2. Means according to claim 1 wherein the assembly locking part that is rotated for locking or releasing the assembly is provided with means that moves across the receptacle as it is rotated, so as to require the plug to be out of the receptacle and the latter exposed before the part can be rotated to release or kick the assembly in the shell, requiring locking the assembly in place before plug in, and requiring plug out before releasing the assembly.

3. Means according to claim 1 wherein the part of the assembly that is rotated for interlocking the assembly and the shell is a locking ring, separate from and journalled on the motor of the assembly, and interlocked to such motor against axial separation, whereby such ring only need be rotated for interlocking connection to the shell.

4. Means according to claim 2 wherein the part of the assembly that is rotated for interlocking the assembly and the shell is a locking ring, separate from and journalled on the motor of the assembly, and interlocked to such motor against axial separation, whereby such ring only need be rotated for interlocking connection to the shell.

5. In a pumping means to remove surplus seepage water from below a basement floor, a shell having a cavity extending below a floor and having an inlet for such seepage water connected to a collection conduit;

a discharge conduit extended to a suitable disposable area and connected to an outlet in the shell; an electrical circuit inlet above the anticipated water 1 level in the shell; v a submersible motor operated sumpvpump nested in a said shell in the cavity adapted for delivering pumped fluid to said outlet; a cover for the shell substantially flush with the basement floor; and a safety interlock switching meansin said shell connected to the electric circuit inlet and including a spring biased plunger which is retracted on assembly of the cover to the shell but which upon removal of the cover provides a normally open circuit. 6. In the pumping means of claim 5, a check valve in said discharge conduit to prevent the return of pumped fluids into the shell cavity. 

1. An under floor pumping means adapted to pump seepage comprising: an exterior cylindrical shell having an open top and a closed bottom, and having first and second side openings near its upper end and a third side opening near its lower end; and a unitary motor-pump assembly comprising a vertical shaft, a motor on the upper end of such shaft, a pump on the lower end of such shaft, with the motor, the pump, and the shaft all being interconnected into a unitary assembly of such a diameter and length in relation to the diameter and length of the shell as to enable the assembly to be lowered into the shell as a unit or lifted out of the shell as a unit, and to be received in said shell with its upper end below the open top of the shell; said shell being formed with an internal ledge of a dimension to provide a support for the upper end of the assembly, the latter thus resting on such ledge and thus being supported by the shell; means sealing the motor and the pump laterally to the shell at the upper ends of the motor and pump parts of the assembly; an electrical switch on the upper end of the assembly for controlling said motor; an electrical cord having a plug at one end for separable connection to a receptacle and connected at the other end to the switch; and means on said assembly and located in said shell above the pump for controlling said switch and formed to respond to a rise in water level in said shell to actuate the switch and thus the motor for pumping; said assembly further having a handle at its upper end for lifting, lowering, or rotating the assembly; said shell having means at the second and third side openings for interconnecting seepage inlet and outlet pipes to the shell at such openings; means at the first side opening for interconnecting an electrical conduit to the shell at such opening; an electrical receptacle adapted to be connected to conductors in such conduit and disposed in such first side opening; and formed to receive said cord plug; said shell and said assembly having cooperating interlocking formations for interlocking the assembly in place in the shell when it is lowered into the shell and suspended therein; with said formations being of a form for locking or releasing as a part of the assembly is rotated around a vertical axis when the assembly is in the shell; and a cover cap for the open upper end of the shell formed to provide a floor level removable closure on the upper end of the shell.
 2. Means according to claim 1 wherein the assembly locking part that is rotated for locking or releasing the assembly is provided with means that moves across the receptacle as it is rotated, so as to require the plug to be out of the receptacle and the latter exposed before the part can be rotated to release or lock the assembly in the shell, requiring locking the assembly in place before plug in, and requiring plug out before releasing the assembly.
 3. Means according to claim 1 wherein the part of the assembly that is rotated for interlocking the assembly and the shell is a locking ring, separate from and journalled on the motor of the assembly, and interlocked to such motor against axial separation, whereby such ring only need be rotated for interlocking connection to the shell.
 4. Means according to claim 2 wherein the part of the assembly that is rotated for interlocking the assembly and the shell is a locking ring, separate from and journalled on the motor of the assembly, and interlocked to such motor against axial separation, whereby such ring only need be rotated for interlocking connection to the shell.
 5. In a pumping means to remove surplus seepage water from below a basement floor, a shell having a cavity extending below a floor and having an inlet for such seepage water connected to a collection conduit; a discharge conduit extended to a suitable disposable area and connected to an outlet in the shell; an electrical circuit inlet above the anticipated water level in the shell; a submersible motor operated sump pump nested in said shell in the cavity adapted for delivering pumped fluid to said outlet; a cover for the shell substantially flush with the basement floor; and a safety interlock switching means in said shell connected to the electric circuit inlet and including a spring biased plunger which is retracted on assembly of the cover to the shell but which upon removal of the cover provides a normally open circuit.
 6. In the pumping means of claim 5, a check valve in said discharge conduit to prevent the return of pumped fluids into the shell cavity. 